Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

Members on this side of the House have proved they are champions at walking. I am not trivialising the matter, it is a worthwhile subject of debate.

Senators O'Donovan and Buttimer highlighted the serious challenge to the Cork-Swansea ferry. After the Order of Business I will see what I can do by contacting the Minister's office to assist this serious situation. Senator Kelly called for a debate on technology and particularly on the role of Enterprise Ireland. We will debate broadband in the House, and enterprise with the Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy McGuinness, attending. As Chairman of the previous Joint Committee on Enterprise and Small Business I found Enterprise Ireland to be an excellent State agency. It is a credit to the country. We are fortunate to have Mr. Frank Ryan as chief executive. There is no better person for the job. I was in the Silicon Valley in the USA and the Silicon Valley in Bangalore, India. In each case Enterprise Ireland is in situ, working day in, day out. If the Senator has experience of Enterprise Ireland not playing a part I would like to take it up with the chief executive because it is not our experience of the agency.

Regarding Senator Kelly's query, public representatives of the people have a direct communication line with the HSE. If a new procedure is emerging we, as Oireachtas Members, want to know about it. In fairness to the HSE in the midland region we have a direct line with the executive in the area and can communicate on a daily basis with senior people regarding urgent matters. If the Senator wants me to take this up with the chief executive or the Minister I will do so.

Senator Ó Domhnaill referred to the undocumented Irish in the United States. The Taoiseach has been honoured as one of the few in the western world to address a joint sitting of the Houses of Parliament in the UK and the US Congress, comprising the House of Representatives and the Senate in a joint sitting. I hope to have the honour of representing this House when the Taoiseach delivers his address.